Collision mitigation for directional response in millimeter wave wireless local area network system

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and system for beamforming training using a wireless transmit receive unit (WTRU). A WTRU may receive an indication of a number of space time slots (STSs) from an access point (AP) within a beacon frame during a beamforming training allocation. The WTRU may send a response signal to the AP in a specific STS based on a function of the number of STSs. The WTRU may receive an acknowledgement (ACK) from the AP confirming the response was received. Alternatively, the AP may send a signal indicating that a collision occurred and alter the number of STSs, and the WTRU may try again in the next beamforming training allocation.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method implemented at a responder, the method comprising:
 receiving, from an initiator, an indication of a number of slots for communicating in a sector of the initiator; 
 sending a signal in one or more slots of the indicated number of slots for communicating in the sector of the initiator based on a generated random number being less than the number of slots for communicating in the sector of the initiator; and 
 receiving an acknowledgement (ACK) confirming the signal was received by the initiator. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the ACK is received in a sector of a sector sweep. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the responder is an enhanced directional multi-gigabit (EDMG) station. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the signal is sent in a direction based on training that occurred during a beacon transmission interval (BTI). 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the number of slots for communicating in the sector of the initiator is an equal or unequal number compared to another sector. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the slots for communicating in the sector of the initiator are space time slots (STSs). 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the initiator that sent the indication of the number of slots for communicating in the sector is associated with the responder. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the initiator that sent the indication of the number of slots for communicating in the sector is unassociated with the responder. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein a beacon frame comprises the indication of the number of slots for communicating in the sector of the initiator, and wherein the method further comprises receiving the beacon frame from the initiator. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the number of slots is indicated in a field of the beacon frame. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the beacon frame is a directional multi-gigabit (DMG) beacon frame. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the slots are associated with a beam training allocation. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the beam training allocation is an asymmetric beamforming training allocation. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 1 , wherein sending the signal in the one or more slots from the indicated number of slots based on the generated random number being less than the number of slots for communicating in the sector of the initiator comprises:
 generating the random number; and 
 comparing the generated random number to the indicated number of slots. 
 
     
     
       15. A wireless transmit receive unit (WTRU) configured to operate as a responder, the WTRU comprising:
 a transceiver; and 
 a processor configured to: 
 receive, from an initiator via the transceiver, an indication of a number of slots for communicating in a sector of the initiator; 
 send, via the transceiver, a signal in one or more slots of the indicated number of slots for communicating in the sector of the initiator based on a generated random number being less than the number of slots for communicating in the sector of the initiator; and 
 receive an acknowledgement (ACK) from the initiator. 
 
     
     
       16. The WTRU of  claim 15 , wherein the ACK is received in a sector of a sector sweep. 
     
     
       17. The WTRU of  claim 15 , wherein the WTRU is an enhanced directional multi-gigabit (EDMG) station. 
     
     
       18. The WTRU of  claim 15 , wherein the signal is sent in a direction based on training that occurred during a beacon transmission interval (BTI). 
     
     
       19. The WTRU of  claim 15 , wherein the number of slots for communicating in the sector of the initiator is an equal or unequal number compared to another sector. 
     
     
       20. The WTRU of  claim 15 , wherein the slots for communicating in the sector are space time slots (STSs). 
     
     
       21. The WTRU of  claim 15 , wherein the initiator that sent the indication of the number of slots for communicating in the sector is associated with the WTRU. 
     
     
       22. The WTRU of  claim 15 , wherein the initiator that sent the indication of the number of slots for communicating in the sector is unassociated with the WTRU. 
     
     
       23. The WTRU of  claim 15 , wherein a beacon frame comprises the indication of the number of slots for communicating in the sector of the initiator, and wherein the processor is configured to receive the beacon frame via the transceiver. 
     
     
       24. The WTRU of  claim 23 , wherein the number of slots is indicated in a field of the beacon frame. 
     
     
       25. The WTRU of  claim 24 , wherein the beacon frame is a directional multi-gigabit (DMG) beacon frame. 
     
     
       26. The WTRU of  claim 15 , wherein the slots are associated with a beam training allocation. 
     
     
       27. The WTRU of  claim 26 , wherein the beam training allocation is an asymmetric beamforming training allocation. 
     
     
       28. The WTRU of  claim 15 , wherein the processor being configured to send the signal in one or more slots from the indicated number of slots based on the generated random number being less than the number of slots for communicating in the sector of the initiator further comprises the processor being configured to:
 generate the random number; and 
 compare the generated random number to the indicated number of slots.